PROVO -- For the third straight week at least one BYU football player has been named MWC Player of the Week. This week two Cougars received the honor -- linebacker David Nixon and punter CJ Santiago. Nixon was honored as Defensive Player of the Week, while Santiago took home Special Teams Player of the Week honors. All-American candidate Max Hall won the MWC Offensive Player of the Week honor in weeks two and three.
Defensive Player of the Week
Senior
Linebacker
College Station, Texas
Senior defensive captain David Nixon led a Cougar team that recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since Sept. 1985.
In just two and a half quarters of play, Nixon was dominating. He tied or led BYU in five defensive categories, including tackles (6), forced fumbles (1), fumble recoveries (1), quarterback hurries (2) and interceptions (1).
With Wyoming driving right before the half, Nixon caused a fumble and recovered the ball on the Wyoming 48 yard line to kill the drive. In the third quarter he intercepted a Karsten Sween pass and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown, giving BYU a 41-0 lead with 8:25 to play in the third.
Nixon is second in the MWC in fumbles forced and eighth in tackles for loss.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Senior
Punter
Honolulu, Hawaii
CJ Santiago had an impressive outing for BYU in its 44-0 triumph over Wyoming. On the day Santiago had seven punts for an average of 46.7 yards per kick, including one for 61 yards — a new season high.
Santiago was key in helping BYU win the field position battle all day. His first three punts were all downed inside the Wyoming 20 yard line — the first at the 11, the second at the 5 and the third at the 4-yard line. The third punt that pinned the Cowboys deep led to a David Nixon interception that was returned 19 yards for a touchdown.
In all, Santiago had four of his seven punts downed inside the Wyoming 20. The other three punts covered 47, 53 and 42 yards.